Anambra FA: Igbokwe Issues Pre Action Notice Against Iloenyosi, Police Over Unlawful Arrest, Detention
Ikechukwu Igbokwe, a lawyer and football activist has demanded a public apology from the Nigeria Police, Anambra Command for unlawfully arresting and detaining him for three days over allegations by Chikelue Iloenyosi, chairman of Anambra State Football Association (AnSFA).
Igbokwe made the demand in his Pre-Action Notice/Petition entitled “Re: Conduct Of Officers/Men Of Commissioner’s Monitoring Unit (X Squad) Awka” to the Police and Iloenyosi.
Igbokwe was arrested in the street of Awka by plain clothed armed men later identified as personnel of X-Squad Department on Sept. 2 and detained at the Central Police Station for three days.
The Police acted on the petition of Iloenyosi who claimed continuous cyber bullying, defamation, and criminal misrepresentation.
Iloenyosi also said Igbokwe falsely paraded himself as a lawyer without ever attending the Nigerian Law School or being called to the Bar.
Igbokwe in the petition written by his Lawyers, Obinna Ugah and Associates and submitted to the Commissioner of Police Anambra Command on Oct. 2, said he was ‘abducted’ on Tuesday Sept. 2 by men from X Squad on his way to a meeting with Anambra State Sports Development Commission.
He said one who SP Stanley led other officers with the X squad informed him that the CP needed his attention but rather than take him to the CP’s office, he was taken to X squad office where a petition written by Chikelue Iloenyosi.
was read to him.
He said no interview was conducted but instead he was issued an arraignment notice which was neither stamped nor had the name of the issuing officer in breach of established police protocol.
“I was detained at the CPS Awka and subsequently released after three days but was curiously asked by the officers of X squad to go for settlement with Chikelue lloenyosi on whose instigation the arrest/abduction was made.
“I rejected the move to settle with Chikelue because I have already petitioned against him to the Anambra Government over his conduct as Chairman of Anambra FA and the Governor who has directed an investigation to be conducted.
“Chikelue Iloenyosi have been duly served to answer and explain his actions.
“Following my refusal to settle with Chikelue lloenyosi, I was issued an arraignment notice to appear before the Federal High Court Awka on Wednesday Sept. 24 2025.
“On the said date, I engaged a lawyer and a surety from Nnewi to take me on bail but neither Chikelue Iloenyosi nor officers of the X squad came to court.
“Court Registry said there was no charge of such nature registered for that day, further enquiry from the O.C Legal who came from State C.I.D proved that the Police Legal Department was not aware of this said arraignment notice,” he said.
Igbokwe said it was obvious that the CP never approved any petition to warrant his abduction/arrest as the Commissioners’ monitoring unit did the specific job of monitoring activities of Police men only and not involved in civil matters.
He said that the insistence of men of X squad that he should settle with Iloenyosi who had boasted several times of the contact and connection of his wife as a very senior police officer whom he had used in other occasions to arrest and intimidate other persons.
Igbokwe demanded an investigation into the conduct of these officers of X Squad to ascertain what led them into this obnoxious action obviously for pecuniary interest.
“An apology to our client who is a senior lawyer of 33 years post call and a senior citizen at 61 who ought to be invited in line with Police professional conduct during investigation.
“We shall, on failure to call for an interview and an apology, proceed on the enforcement of the Fundamental Right of our client that the men of your X squad have clearly violated,” it said .
